The Sun. — London, England, 1818-09-04 00:00:00

ROMAN CATHOLICS. We feel ourselvei much obliged to the Corre ,pundeDt wh o iris favoured us with the follow iitg, we will not merely say affecting, but afflicting 7,,o la tiv e , an d we cordially join with him, in asking what security have we that the PAPISTS, who profess that their Religion is wholly unchanged aud unchangeable, would not act in the here recorded, if they could once obtain the as tendency, towards which our Government AVoiil4l. certainly open the way, if it were ever, by farther concession, to suffer them to obtain any portion of political Power ? The PAPISTS have already the fullest toleration for their ReLtoton. If they are sincere, they will be contented with that pri vilege, and not betray pride and ambition by aspiring to political authority in a Protestant State. The following is a short and affecting account of the Martyrdom of the Rev. M. RocHETTE4 and three young Noblemen that were executed with him, at Toulouse, on the 19th of February 1762, for pr fessing the Protestant Religion.— What security have we Protestants had from the Cut holies since tha above period, that we should grant them their claims, and thereby run the risk of in hue this (England) becoming a Catholic and Blitous be compelled to acknow ledge a foreign jurisdiction and behold such spec tacles as the following The day before yesterday the prisoners were tried by the two Chambers of the Parlia ment of Toulouse, and yesterday they ' were beheaded. All the four Alartyrs behaved wish invincible constancy and firmness of wind, attended with a cheerfulness and serenity that was adapted to excite the highest admira tion. They finished their days like christian heroes. As soon as they beard their sentence read, ►hey beheld each other steadfastly, and said, " Let 113 then die since things are so and let us . pray to God to accept the sacrifice that we are uow to n►ake of our lives to him and to the truth." Upon which M. RocHRTTe prayed aloud in the u►ost moving and pathetic manner. They then embraced two of their companions, who A' er e condemned to the galleys, and congratulated tenderly another of them who had been set at liberty. Monsieur Billot, one of the Secretaries, %t hp was present at this first scene of their trials never speaks Of it without shedding tears. The Martyrs were next committed to the care of the four principal Curates, whom the Attorney-Gene ral sent to attempt their conversion. But the exhortations of these Ecclesiastics produced as little effect as those of the Abbe Coutezae, who had been in the prison every day for three months, fled L a d been so often empowered by the Magis trates to offer them their lives and their liberty on condition of their embracing the Runtish Re ligion, an offer which they disdainfully rejected. M. Rochette begged of these Ecclesiastics that they would put an end to their useless im portunities, and not continue to trouble hint and his three friends In their last moments, but sot fer them to die in peace expressing at the same time, his grateful sense of their well-meant zeal. (The of the Curates threatened hint and his com panions with dam nation; upon which the worths- Minister replied, with his usual serenity, " that they were going to appear before a more equi table Judge than he was, even before that merci ful Judge who had shed his blood for their salva tion." At the same time he exhorted his fellow-mar tyrs to fortitude and perseverance ; and when, the Curates interrupted him with accusations of heresy, an d with pompons discourses about the power of granting the remission of sins, which was lodged in the Church, he told them, that the Protest- alit Religion acknowledged no such power, not looked for the pardon of sin front any other source than the mercy of God in Jesus Christ. Being delivered about two o'clock flow the inipminity of these priests, tire pious martyrs employed those moments in prayer and praises to that God who had enabled (Item to behold death without terror or dismay, and encouraged each other to persevere unto the end. While these good men thanked the centinels and keepers of the prison for the kind treatment they had received front them, the latter burst into tears, and shed the anguish of humanity upon the mar tyrdom of their prisoners. The minister perceiv ing one of the soldiers weeping still more bit terly than the rest, addressed himself to him thus, Aly good friend, are you not willing and ready to die for your King ? why then do you pity me, svho am going to death for the cause of GO,l ?" 'Hie priests returned to their impor unities about one in the afternoon, and were entreated to retire ; but to no purpose. One of them said, It is from a concern about your salvation that we come here ;" upon which the youngest of the three brothers replied, " If you were at Geneva, at the point of death in consequence of a mortal disease (tor there no one is put to death on account of religion), would you chose to be re4zed and importuned in your last moments by tour or five Protestant ministers, under pretence of zeal ? Do therefore as you would be done by." This mild remonstrance was insufficient to put an end to the vain and cruel attempts of these blind zealots, who, furnished each with a crucifix, which they presented from time to time to the prisoners, continued to perplex them in the most indiscreet manner. " Speak of Him (said one of the Noblemen who was to stiffer), who died for our sins, and was raised for our jus. t ification. anti then we will listen to you; hot do not trouble its with your vain superstitions." About two o'clock the martyrs were led out of ism, placed in a waggon,with the four Curates, aid thus conducted to the gate of,Ahe cathedral. /lire the Minister was desired to step out of the wagaon, and to ask pardon on his knees of God, the Kili t 4, and the Law, in that he had wickedly perseveied in performing the functions of his ry in opposition to the Royal edicts, This he twice refused to do. He was told that this *ilt n 0 more than z formality; to which he ciMwer ed, " That he neither would acknowledge nor Feb mit to nny formality that was contrary to the dic tates of his couscience." At length, however, being obliged by force and violent treatment to leave the waggon, be fell upon his knees and expressed himself thus : " I (nimbly ask of Almighty God the pardon of all my sins, in the full persuashri of obtaining the remissioe of them through the ,blood of Jesus Christ. With respect to the King, I have no pardon to ask of him, having never offewled him. I always honoured hint as the Loed's anointed ; I always loved him as the fa ther of my country ; I have always been to him a good and Faithful subject, and of this my judges themselves have appeared to he fully convinced 3 I always recommended to my flock patience, obe dience, ar d submission, and my sermons have always been confined to the, two great objects contained in these words of holy wilt, Fear God and honour the King. If I have acted in opposi tion to the laws that prohibited our religious as semblies, I (lid this in obedietree to the laws of Him who is the King of Kings. With respect to public justice, I have nothing to say but this, that I never offended it, and I most earnestly pray that God will vouchsafe to pardon my judges." This was the only confession that the officers of justice, after much importunity and contestation, could obtain from Monsieur Rochette ; and, though it did not answer their purpose, yet they were obliged to be satisfied with it, perceiving the in vincible resolution with which this noble martyr protested against going any farther. No sect] acknowledgment was rerteired of the three Noble men who suffered with him, as by the laws of France it is never demanded of such as are be headed. They were however conducted, with Monsieur Rochette, to the place of execution. The ordinary place appointed for the execution of criminals was not chosen upon this occasion, but one much less spacious, that this glorious instance of martyrdom might !Nye the fewer spectatoes.--. All the streets which led to it were lined with soldiers, end that on account of the pretended apprehension of a rescue. But this they could only fear from the Roman Catholic, (on whom, indeed, the shedding thus deliberately the blood of the innocent seemed to make a lively impres sion), for the small number of Protestant fami lies that live in this city, filled with consternation at this unrighteous sentence, had shut themselves up itt their houses, where they were wholly em ployed in tending up their prayers and lamenta tions to Heaven, while this terrible scene was transacting. In the streets which led to the place of execution, the windows were hired at very I,igh prices : wherever the martyrs passed, they were accompanied with the tears and lamenta tions of the spectators. One would have thought, by the expressions of sorrow that appeared every where, that Toulouse was, all of a sudden, be come a Protestant city. The Curate of Film- could not bear this affecting spectacle. Yielding to the power of sympathy (and perhaps of conscience), he fainted away, and one of the Vicars was sent for to supply his place. The circumstance that was most affecting, was the inexpressible serenity that appeared in the countenance of the young Clergyman as lie went on to death. His graces fol mien, the resignation and fortitude that reign ed in his expreseions, his bloomiug youth, every thing, in short, in his conduct, character., and ap pearance, interested all ranks of people in his fa voor, and rendescd his fate the subject of univer sal effliction. This affliction was augmented by one particular circumstance, even its being uni versally known that Monsieur Rochette might have saved his life by an untruth, but rehired to hold It at so dear a rate ; for as hehtg a Minister was his only crime, and as there were no com plaints made against him, no advertisements de scribing his person, nor any witnesses to prove his character, he had only to deny his being a Minister, toot his life was saved ; but he chose rather to lose his life than deny his profession.— He was the first of the font. that was executed, and in the face of death he exhorted his compa oions to perseverance, and sting those sublime verses of the 128th Psalm, " This is the day which the Lord path merle, we will rejoice and be glad," Ste. 'When the executioner, among others, conjured hint to die a Roman Catholic, the Minister answered him in this gentle man ner :—" Judge, friend, which of the two is the best religion, that which persecute!, or that which is persecuted ?" lie added, that his grandfather, and one of his uncles, hail died for the pure religion of the Gospel, and that lie would be the third martyr of his family. Two of the three Gentlemen that suffered with him be held him tied to the gibbet with an amazing in trepidity ; hut the third covered his Eyes with his hand, 'that lie mig,ht not witness such an awful spectacle. The Commissaries of the Parliament, and the Deputies of the other Courts of Justice, discovered, by their pensive looks and downcast eyes, how deeply they were affected upon this melancholy occasion, The three brothers em braced each other tenderly, and recommended mutually their departing souls to the God who gave them. Their heads were struck off at three blows. When the scene was finished, the specta tors returned to their respective homes in a so lemn silence, reflecting on the fate of innocence and virtue, and scarcely able to persuade them selves that the world could present such a spec tacle of magnanimity, and such an instance of cruelty, as they haul been just beholding. SHOCKING ACCIDENT.--On the night of the 30th ultimo, the house of Mr. Nathan find ' son, in Finnan!, within four miles of this town, was accidentally consumed by fire.-- Mrs. Hudson and the rest of the family bad escaped, but she unfortunately returned in hopes of saving a pocket book which contained some bank-Motes, and was, we are sorry to say, burned to death. She was a most respectable wo man, and the mother of three children. By the exertions of Messrs. Crawford, aided by Mr. Scott and others, the ,flames were prevented from com municating to the adjacent houses, and much of Mr. Hudson's property was preserved. Some per sons who were ende&rouring to aid in extinguish ing the flames were severely hurt by the fulling in of the roof.—(Newry Telegraph.) THE QUEEN.—The roost alarming reports were prevalent last night respecting HER MAJESTY, but we have the pleasure to find, by the following Bulletin, issued this day, that they are virtually contradicted " KEW Houss, SEPT. 4. " The QuElrn Continues much in the same state as yesterday, although HER MAJESTY'S night has been but an indifferent one. (Signed) " MILMAN. " H. HALFORD." The Paris Papers of Tuesday last, which were due this morning, have not arrived. \Ve received this morning some further Ameri can Papers. The 1-Vashingion intelligencer of the 27th July contains the following important ar ticle respecting Pensacola, and the other Spanish Posts taken possession of by General JACKSON, which, it appears, are to be restored, under cer tain conditions, to the Spanish Government : (From The National latelligenrer.) " WASHINGTON, JULY 27.—The President of the United States has, we understand, decided, that Pensacola and the other Spanish Posts, which have been taken by General Jackson, in the Flo rida', shall be restored to the Spanish Authority; but with a requisition, that the King of Spain shall, hereafter, keep such a force in those Colo nies as shall enable him to execute, with fidelity, the fifth article of the Treaty between the United States and Spain. That article, so far as it affects this subject, is in the following words : The two high contracting parties shall, by all the means in their power, maintain peace and harmony among the several Indian nations who inhabit the country adjacent to the lines and river', which, by the preceding articles, lot m the boundaries of the two Floridas ; and, the better to obtain this effect, both parties oblige themselves, expressly, to restrain, by force, all hostilities on the part of the Indian nations living within their boundary, so that Spain will not suffer her Indians to attack the citizens of the United States, nor the Indians inhabiting their territory ; nor «•ill the United States permit these last mentioned Indians to commence hostilities against the subjects of his Catholic Majesty, or his Indians, in any manner whatever.' 1 1 ' On the strict execution of this article, on the part of Spain, it is understood that the President rigorously insists, and that it was the failure to fulfil it which produced the necessity of crossing the Spanish boundary during the present war with the Seminole Indians. " These tribes occupy the lands on each side of the line between the United States and Florida; much the greater part of them living within the limits of the King of Spain. They are neither citizens of the United States nor subjects of the King of Spain. They owe no allegiance to the laws of either Power. They cannot, therefore, be tried for treason on account of their levying war against either nation, within whose limits they dwell. They are the owners of the soil which they occupy ; hold at least a qualified sovereignty over it, and exercise, on all occasions, the right of making war and peace. To this pur pose they are sovereign within the country which they possess ; to this purpose the country is their country ; and that country may and must, of ne cessity, become the legitimate seat of war, if the war cannot be otherwise terminated. " This consideration becomes stronger, when it is remembered, that it was owing to the ac knowledged incompetency of Spain to fulfil the stipulation of her Treaty with us, by restraining the hostilities of the Seminoles by force, that the Uuited State. %vete compelled to take up artus in a of their own defence. Yet such was the de lie3 fi r st our Government tow a rd s Spain, that th e to t order issued to the General commanding in i s S quarter, expressly forbade him to cross the SP 3t3 na ° line. This inhibition was repeated by 3 sec 0 3 s order. But, as it was apparent that 116' 414 le s Indians beyond th e li m it s of the 'United S`a ova was doing n o thi ng effectual to extiOguislithe since in falling back within the limits of 171°r io ' , they were still at home, with all the means n ' cursion and annoyance which they possessed st the commencement of hostilities, a thir d oract sa was issued, which authorised the A ineric ,„ General, if the Indians should presen t selves in a body, beyond the line, to ern s ' and attack them. Shortly after issuing tti order, a massacre was committed b y the In i dians, which demonstrated that no alternatig were left for the United States, but to !c ave 01tr 1 , frontier exposed to the mercy of the savages for to carry the war into Florida, and thus t o Spain what she confessed herself unable t° ces for herself, by terminating by force the nn stiliv , of these savages. A fourth order was, thernO/rera i! issued to this effect to the American Ge but by the same order Ile was exnresslY 12 lei minded, manded, if the Indians should take refug e t e a Spanish fort, not to attack them in tha t 4itt/ 0 f tion, but to report the case to the Dertrt ifielit is War. Such has been the delicacy observed bY United States towards Spain; and no subsequco%. order, it is understood, has been issued to e large the authority of the American Gener al ' , 11 , " In attacking the posts of St. Mat k and le sacola, with the fort of Barrancas, General 1 13( . "'et son, it is understood, acted on facts, which ; for the first time, brought to his knowledge, is the immediate theatre of war ; facts whi ch ', o , his estimation, implicated the Spanish A ut ',. l; , rides in that quarter, as the instigators and 3°l° is aries of the war ; and he took these meas ures tl° his own responsibility merely. That his opens 14, proceeded from motives of the purest patriat'4 and from his conviction, that, in seising holding those posts, he was justified by tile b ef cessity of the case, and was advancing the ra interests of his country, the character of Ge t/e o Jackson forbids a doubt. Of the importan t 1 '; e t t , alledged by him, satisfactory proof, it i s stood, has been already furnished to the Pres° 4 , and proof of the other facts is confidently otP ectf i l It is difficult to admit the belief that acts, so t ytts : 40° regardless of the amicable relati o ns between" t o -and the United States, so directly reptlO Ut in i the stipulation of the Treaty above quetteall'to in themselves so hostile and even cruel , '/` oft avowed and adopted by the iiing of brig"' 16 4 trust that they were the mere unauthorised s e tt 3 11 his agents. But, should they, contiarY to b 1 rational expectation, be so avowed and adopo that Sovereign, there can be little doubt ti l) e l ler • means of annoying us front that quarter o' th long be taken front him, by the decision of competent authority, to be restored no m ore' t Ue ir " In the mean time, as Congress only ha''' ' power, under our Constitution, of declaring and had made no such declaration against Se a n' it is understood that the President does nn t ceive himself authorised to retain th e S e 0 posts, inasmuch as such retention would be d, act of war. It is on this ground, sve understl'os that the resolution has been taken to r est°11 11; 0 posts, and to demand from the King of punishment of those Officers whose intr- conduct led to their seizure. ot' " The President, no doubt, sees, i n c° — g with his countrymen, the gr eat a d v antages W the United States would derive froth the eilti' ; possession of the Floridas ; but, confes sedly %to wil as these advantages would be, he is not lir-0. gain them, but by the S anction of an ac t Of r e' press. To have ret a ined t h e se posts, onderdPoe sent circumstances, would cer tainly have eclat of being a strong measure ; but we vv . never to see a President of the Uni ted States f posed to be stronger than the Constitution a 5 country ; for that is the palladium of inter e ' t t i t more sacred, end of infinitely higher ifor oc , the general cause of human liber t y , than °Y Os ° r quisition of territory, however vast or tageous. f 0.,0 " Notwithstanding this unexpected colhitc the Floridas, we trust that the relations of d; or between the two nations will b e preset oich can we abandon the hope, that the incidents .:r have grown out of the Seminole war, hove' oo f ve b verse their tendency may have app eare d to tool!, contribute essentially to produce that haPPY Spain must see, and has p rac tically e onles°, l : incompetency to ma i n tain her authotitY ig/ se. Floridas, against the Seminoles and for e `g ill t hat I ` a t venturers; and we hope she wil l see •ricrs be much wiser for her to cede t hose pro ,ti tbe 11=1 once, than to attempt to hold then' on r on sible condition of her Treaty with n s ; " cr iea‘ e ' condition now brought home to I!ers 11°1 THEATRICAL REGISTER. Performer! Lust Ni g ht. TlttATnr. ROYAL, HAvmaßKET.—Tensing. made Easy : Liti- Wgant, INIr. Terry; Miss Manly, Mrs. Gibbs. After which, Who's My Fathers To which was added, Love, Law, and Physic. Tri EATRE ROYAL, tNaLigil OPEttA, SlltANll.—The Blind Boy : Edmond, Miss Kolly ; Elvina, Mrs.W.S. Chatterlev. After which, Amateur) artdArtors. To which was added, Bache lors' Wives. 4 ,* Fur POLITICAL SKETCH F:s, see the First Page—LITECARY Ittview, see the Last Page. MAILS. AnhivEn-0 Dublin, 4 Waterford, 1 Guernsey and Jersey, 1 1 - iambargl, 1 Flanders, I Jamaica. Sr:eden, 1 Hamburgh, 1 Holland, 1 Lisbon. STOCKS ' vELvn o'cLocit„ India 80nd5...... GBs. 71s. pr. Old Annuities . . . Exch. Bilk, td... 18s. 20s. pr. Ditto, endorsed I 7s. pr. Minium . dis. Cons. tor Account.-- . FRIC:E 0 TRIS DAY Al' T a pet • Certt.rted,.........750 3 per Cent. Cons. .. 744 i per Cent 84i 95 _ . 4 per Cents. 5 per CLIN. Ann. 103 i 7, 1041 Bank L. Ann. 90 1-16 fr 3-16 'HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TOMORROW. Morning, 8 minates after 5. I Evening, 7i3 minutes after 5. THE SUN. 'CLEM QUI DICERE FALSITNI AUDEAT 11,‘ LONDON, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1818. i i F ‘ 4 ,, t), tieli Ilia, t he. I%ith Ir ttr (1 11 II •